Crosses erected in memory to those who lost their lives at a notorious blackspot have been destroyed by vandals.

Eleven memorials were smashed beyond repair and two were turned upside down in the apparent act of vandalism at Slane bridge in Co Meath.

A total of 23 white crosses were erected by the Bypass Slane Campaign group. to remember all those killed.

Those honoured included toddler David Garvey who was killed in February 2001 when a lorry mounted the footpath.

The last cross was planted in April after pensioner James Gargan died in December 2012 while crossing the road.

Michele Power, of the Bypass Slane Campaign, said: “We cannot understand the blatant lack of respect for those who have tragically lost their lives in our village.

“Slane gardai have been notified and we urge anyone who witnessed anything unusual in the area between Monday and Tuesday evening to report it to gardai.

“These crosses are a reminder of the awful death toll here in the village and they encourage people to slow down.

“There are families in Slane who have lost relatives in accidents in the village and those crosses symbolise their loss. I can only imagine how they will feel when they see this mindless vandalism.”

The incident occurred just after the Bypass Slane Campaign Group had finished refurbishing and re-fitting the crosses which had become weather-beaten.

James Gargan

Ms Power has now appealed for help to replace the memorials. She added: “We are a voluntary group and we have no funding to carry out the big repair job that this will need, so we would like to ask people to help to get this sorted as soon as we can.”

In 2012, An Bord Pleanala refused permission for a proposed bypass around the village partly because of the project’s close proximity to the World Heritage site at Bru na Boinne.

Board members also believed it had not been proved no appropriate alternative was available.

However, the Slane Bypass Group continue to campaign for a new bypass and are awaiting a new report which is due to amalgamate the traffic statistics from the November toll holiday with a feasibility study of a HGV ban through the village.

Local Slane Cllr Wayne Harding commented: “These crosses were a powerful symbol of a campaign which has gone on for the last 30 years in Slane village.

“I have no doubt that the people who have dedicated their time to this campaign on a voluntary basis will try to replace the crosses as soon as they can.”